Metatarsal arch support



Jan. 10, 1933. J. J. coRAN n 11,893,697

METATARSAL ARCH SUPPORT Filed July 20, 1931 Patented Jan. 1.0, 1933 UNITED STATES JACK J. CORAN, F ST. LOIS, MISSOURI METATARsAL Anon surnom* Application ined July 2o,

My invention relates to metatarsal arch supports; and it has for its principal object a support that can be properly positioned with respect to an individual arch without requiring to be made and built especially therefor. The invention consists principally in building a metatarsal arch support into a shoe so that it has a capacity for endwise adjustment. The invention further consists 0 in the metatarsal arch support and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a metatarsal arch support embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the support in position in a shoe,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mounting piece of a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of said modied form of the invention in place in a shoe,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 in Fior. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9 9 in Fig. 8.

The metatarsal arch support illustrated in Figs. l to 5 comprises an oval pad A of leather or other suitable material whose upper surr face l is of the proper convex shape to sup 0 port the metatarsal arch. Projecting from the underside of the support is a lug 2 that its between the side members 3 of a frame B that is mounted in the insole 4 of the shoe and is considerably longer than said lug 2. Extending from end to end of the frame B is a pin 5 which passes through a longitudil` nal bore in said lug 2. Thus the arch support A can be moved, tovarious positions lengthwise of the shoe, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, but is held against lateral movement.

It is well known that feet which are of the same overall length and which, accordingly, require the same size of shoe may have their metatarsal arch located at different points 1931. serial No. 551,159.3.`

lengthwise of the shoe. Accordingly, it has been thought necessary to build such arch supports to special order Vdepending upon the position of the individual arch. The present w` support, however, can be built into a shoe and given a range of adjustment sufficient to accommodate all variations in arch rpositions, for feet that Wear that size of shoe. When the individual tries on the shoe, the position j of his arch can bedetermined. and the arch 'C0 support positioned accordingly. After the arch support has been properly positioned, the weight of the foot will tend to keep the support in place. To further assist in leeping it in place, the underside of the support may be corrugated or otherwise roughened, as shown at 6 and the insole 4 (or the sock lining if one is placed over the insole) may be made of rough material.l The tops of the side members 3 may. also be pro-vided with teeth 70 or corrugations 7 to cooperate with the corrugations 6 of the support. Any other suitable securing device` may be employed, if desired. f

The modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9, in- 75 elusive, is an adjustable construction adapted to be placed in completed shoes. The arch pad A1, which is shown as being of rubber, but which may be of leather or any other suitable material, has embedded therein the enlarged head 2l of a slide bar 22 that projects from the underside of the arch support A1 and is provided with laterally extending fins or guides 23 that run in traclways 24 formed in a metal'frame member B1. The 85 trackway may be provided with corrugations 24a which will tendto hold the slide bar and support against longitudinal movement. Secured between the underside of the arch pad A1 and the top of the frame B1 is a leather or other strip 25 which projects beyond the edges of the support and may be cemented to the inner sole or sock lining of the shoe to secure the device in place. By this arrange ment, the device may be roughly positioned 95 and then accurately placed to suit the arch of an individual. lThe device tends to remain in desired position; but the track member and the slide bar may be made of very light metal so that comparatively light blows '1 would close up the track member and prevent further sliding of the arch support.

The above described arch support is roughly positioned in the shoe and then accurately positioned to fit the wearer. It greatly facilitates the task of determinin the proper position for the arch support. t permits the wearer to test the support in dierentl positions before finally anchoring it.

What I claim is:

l. A metatarsal arch support comprising a mounting frame set into the insole of a shoe and extending longitudinally thereof, a slide rod extending lengthwise of said frame and a pad having a projection mounted loosely on said slide rod. Y

2. A metatarsal arch support comprising a mounting frame set into the insole of a shoe and extending longitudinally thereof, a slide rod extending lengthwise of said frame and a pad having a projectionmounted loosely on said slide rod, fthe under surface of said pad being corrugated so as to hold the pad in desired position in the shoe.

3. A metatarsal arch support comprising a mounting frame set into the insole of a shoe and extending longitudinally thereof, a slide rod extending lengthwise of said frame, a

pad having a projection mounted loosely on w said slide rod and means for holding said pad in desired position in the shoe.

4. A'metatarsal arch support comprising a mounting frame set into the insole of the shoe and extending longitudinally of the shoe and a pad having a portion projecting into said frame so as to be permitted longitudinal movement and held against transverse movement. A

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 17th day of July, 1931.

JACK J. CORAN. 

